Chemical Peel in Scottsdale: How I Use Peels in Every Treatment
Light peels built into your facial, laser and microneedling visits, chosen for your skin that day.
Looking for a chemical peel in Scottsdale? Here, a light peel isn’t sold on its own: it’s built into the facial, laser and microneedling visits, chosen for your skin that day. I’m Nurse Bea, an Aesthetic Registered Nurse and Licensed Aesthetician, and this is how and why I use peels the way I do.
Treatments here are done by me or by a certified aesthetic registered nurse who is also a Certified Laser Technician on my team, following my protocol.
Schedule your free consultation — new clients hold their spot with a $50 deposit, credited to treatment or products, or refunded on request. Call (480) 405-0100 · 7054 E Cochise Road B100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253.
What is a chemical peel?
A chemical peel is a procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers. Light peels work on the surface, while medium and deep peels go further and need more healing time.
Common peel acids include glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid and lactic acid. Which one I use depends on your skin at the assessment.
Where is the peel in my treatment?
There are three ways to get a peel here, and each one is part of a longer visit:
| Visit | The peel inside it |
|---|---|
| Facial | A light peel chosen at your skin assessment |
| Laser (Laser Facial or UltraGlo) | A mild peel, Über Peel if your skin allows |
| Microneedling | Über Peel, a peel made to pair with microneedling |
If a peel is mainly what you’re after, the facial is the closest thing to a “peel appointment”.
What can a peel help with?
Light peels help with dull skin, uneven tone, fine lines and some types of acne. Dermatologists use chemical peels to treat some types of acne and conditions that discolor the skin, including melasma and age spots.
Results from a light peel are subtle, build over time and are often done in a series, which is why I pair peels with other treatments. For specific concerns, see my pages on acne, melasma and acne scars.
Why don’t you offer TCA, VI Peel or other deep peels?
Because of the Arizona sun. Living in sunny Arizona, I always worry about deeper peels, where the skin sheds heavily for several days: the risk of a PIH rebound is real, especially for darker skin tones, and it can last for years. I couldn’t forgive myself if I gave someone that risk.
What is a PIH rebound? PIH stands for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: dark patches left behind after the skin has been irritated or injured, which Cleveland Clinic describes as discoloration after an injury to the skin, such as acne, cuts or burns. A “rebound” is when a strong peel triggers it, so you end up with new dark patches, sometimes darker than the spots you came in to treat. It’s more common in darker-skinned individuals, and the patches may become darker if exposed to sunlight, which is a real problem in Arizona.
Cleveland Clinic notes that if you have a darker skin tone, you have a greater risk of experiencing a darkening of your skin after treatment, and a medium peel takes about seven to 14 days to heal, with redness that can last for months. When you want deeper results, microneedling or laser with a light peel gets you there with far less shedding.
Are chemical peels safe for darker skin?
Light peels can be, with preparation. A dermatology review notes that superficial peels can be used in nearly all skin types, and that PIH can be made worse by sun exposure.
For darker skin, I prep first with tretinoin and sunscreen, keep the peel light, and watch your skin closely between visits. The same review notes topical retinoids before a peel help it go on more evenly. If tretinoin is right for you, our Medical Director can provide it here.
Chemical peel or microneedling: which is better?
They do different jobs, which is why I often use both in one visit. A peel works on the surface for tone and texture; microneedling works by stimulating your body to make collagen, which matters for acne scars and fine lines.
For sun damage and pigment, I use the Laser Facial. At your consultation we pick the visit that matches your goal, and the peel comes with it.
Who should wait before getting a peel?
Wait if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, have taken isotretinoin recently, or have a sunburn or an active cold sore. Mayo Clinic lists people who have taken isotretinoin in the past six months and people who are pregnant as not good candidates.
Peels can trigger a flare-up of the herpes virus, so if you get cold sores often, tell us: valacyclovir is available through our Medical Director. We restart once your skin has healed.
What is chemical peel aftercare?
Don’t pick the flaking skin, wear sunscreen every day and stay out of the sun for a few days. Rubbing or scratching skin treated with a chemical peel can cause an infection, and new skin is temporarily more sensitive to the sun.
Pause tretinoin and exfoliating acids for a few days, then restart. Until your skin settles, use only a gentle cleanser and moisturizer.
How long does a chemical peel take to heal?
After a light peel, skin usually heals in about one to seven days.
How you heal also depends on the treatment the peel was part of: microneedling or laser adds its own recovery, and we go over that at your visit.
How much does a chemical peel cost in Scottsdale?
There’s no separate peel price: the peel is included in the visit. The facial is currently $179; the laser treatments are currently $395 (UltraGlo) and $495 (Laser Facial) a session; and medical microneedling is currently $349 a session. Laser and microneedling cost less per session when you buy a series.
The consultation is free, and nobody here works on commission. New clients hold their spot with a $50 deposit that goes toward treatment or products, or is refunded on request.
Looking for a chemical peel in Scottsdale?
We’re at 7054 E Cochise Road B100, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, on the Paradise Valley side of Scottsdale. We see clients from Phoenix, Arcadia, North Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek and Tempe. Hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm and weekends 11am to 5pm, by appointment.
Schedule your free consultation or call (480) 405-0100. Not sure where to start? See how a consultation works.
More questions I get about chemical peels
For light peels, Mayo Clinic says every two to five weeks is common. Here, the spacing follows the treatment the peel is part of, and we plan it at your consultation.
Be careful: the AAD warns that some chemical peels sold for at-home use are causing serious injuries. Ask me first, and I’ll recommend something that fits your skin.
No. Let the skin heal and don’t pick at anything: picking treated skin can cause an infection, and picking acne increases your risk of developing an acne scar.
Written by Beatrice Moorefield, RN, LE, LSO — aesthetic registered nurse, licensed aesthetician, skin health educator, and founder of Skin With Bea Esthetics, Scottsdale.
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